Mauritius, Rodrigues & Réunion, 5th; The Bradt Travel Guide

by Royston Ellis, Alexandra Richards, and Derek Schuurman

• ISBN13: 9781841620596
• ISBN10: 1841620599
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-12-01
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

The Mascarene Isles comprise the three contrasting islands--Mauritius, its dependency Rodrigues, and the French island of Reacute;union. Each is unique and a destination in its own right, yet each is easily accessible from the other. Although they are renowned for sun, sea, and sand, these islands offer outdoor exploring opportunities such as cycling and mountain hiking over volcanic terrain, while local nature reserves boast some of the world's rarest birds under conservation on the islands. Watersports are naturally highlighted with options ranging from diving and snorkelling around the coral reefs to deep-sea fishing for marlin on a local teak fishing craft. Associated with luxury travel, these Creole islands can be equally rewarding for the budget traveler, and this guide includes listings for reasonably priced hotels and restaurants.

Author Biography

Royston Ellis is a travel writer and novelist, and is a regular visitor to Mauritius from his home in Sri Lanka. He is the author of Bradt¿s Maldives and their new Sri Lanka guide. Alex Richards is a well-travelled linguist whose experience includes teaching on the island of R\u00e9union. Derek Schuurman is a tour operator specializing in Africa and the Indian Ocean, with a strong interest in natural history.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	xi
PART ONE MAURITIUS: BACKGROUND INFORMATION	1	(100)
Background Information	3	(22)
Geography	3	(1)
Climate	4	(1)
History	5	(7)
Politics	12	(1)
Economy	13	(6)
People	19	(2)
Religion	21	(1)
Culture	22	(1)
Language	23	(1)
Education	24	(1)
Natural History and Conservation	25	(16)
Volcanic origins of fragile ecosystems	25	(1)
The endemic and indigenous flora of Mauritius	26	(2)
Fauna	28	(3)
Nature reserves and conservation	31	(7)
Marine life	38	(3)
Planning your Visit	41	(20)
Gathering information	41	(1)
When to go	42	(1)
Getting there	43	(5)
Red tape	48	(2)
Getting married	50	(1)
What to take	51	(1)
Budgeting	51	(1)
Health	52	(4)
Safety	56	(1)
Disabled travellers	57	(1)
Cultural sensitivities	57	(1)
Giving something back	58	(3)
In Mauritius	61	(30)
On arrival/departure	61	(1)
Getting around	62	(6)
Accommodation	68	(2)
Eating	70	(1)
Drinking	71	(2)
The arts	73	(1)
Shopping	74	(2)
Entertainment	76	(1)
Money and banking	77	(1)
Media and communications	78	(3)
Working hours and public holidays	81	(3)
Churches	84	(1)
Photography	85	(1)
Business	85	(3)
Help	88	(3)
Activities	91	(10)
Golf	91	(1)
Horse-racing	91	(1)
Horse-riding	92	(1)
Hunting	92	(1)
Football	92	(1)
Deep-sea fishing	92	(2)
Scuba-diving and snorkelling	94	(3)
Other undersea experiences	97	(1)
Sailing	97	(1)
Windsurfing	98	(1)
Water-skiing	98	(1)
Hiking and adventure sports	98	(3)
PART TWO MAURITIUS AND ITS DEPENDENCIES	101	(82)
Port Louis	103	(14)
Around town	106	(3)
Getting there and away	109	(1)
Information	110	(1)
Communications	110	(1)
Where to stay	110	(2)
Where to eat	112	(1)
Nightlife	113	(1)
What to do in Port Louis	113	(2)
What to see in Port Louis	115	(2)
Northern Mauritius	117	(20)
Baie du Tombeau to Pointe aux Piments	117	(4)
Trou aux Biches to Pointe aux Canonniers	121	(2)
Grand Baie	123	(5)
Pereybere	128	(2)
Cap Malheureux to Grand Gaube	130	(2)
Poudre d'Or to Riviere du Rempart	132	(1)
What to do in the north	132	(1)
What to see in the north	133	(4)
Eastern Mauritius	137	(8)
Roches Noires to Belle Mare	137	(3)
Trou d'Eau Douce	140	(1)
South of Trou d'Eau Douce to Bois des Amourettes	141	(2)
What to do in the east	143	(1)
What to see in the east	143	(2)
Southern Mauritius	145	(10)
Vieux Grand Port and Mahebourg	145	(4)
South of Blue Bay to Souillac	149	(2)
Riambel to Baie du Cap	151	(1)
What to do in the south	152	(1)
What to see in the south	153	(2)
Western Mauritius	155	(10)
Morne Brabant to Tamarin	155	(5)
Wolmar and Flic en Flac to Port Louis	160	(3)
What to do in the west	163	(1)
What to see in the west	163	(2)
Central Mauritius	165	(14)
Plaines Wilhems	165	(1)
Beau Bassin and Rose Hill	166	(1)
Quatre Bornes	167	(1)
Vacoas and Phoenix	168	(1)
Floreal	169	(1)
Curepipe	170	(3)
Black River Gorges National Park and around	173	(1)
Moka	174	(1)
Around Le Reduit	175	(1)
What to do in the centre	176	(1)
What to see in the centre	176	(3)
Island Dependencies of Mauritius & Biot	179	(4)
Agalega	179	(1)
St Brandon	179	(1)
Tromelin	180	(1)
The Chagos Archipelago	180	(3)
PART THREE RODRIGUES	183	(32)
General Information	185	(12)
Overview	185	(1)
Geography	185	(1)
Flora and fauna	185	(6)
History and politics	191	(1)
Economy	192	(1)
Everyday life and culture	193	(1)
Religion	194	(1)
Language and education	194	(1)
Health and safety	194	(1)
Help	195	(2)
Practical Information	197	(18)
Getting there	197	(1)
On arrival/departure	198	(1)
Getting around	198	(2)
Accommodation	200	(1)
Facts of life	200	(2)
Port Mathurin	202	(3)
Around Rodrigues	205	(4)
What to do in Rodrigues	209	(6)
PART FOUR REUNION	215	(110)
General Information	217	(14)
Geography	217	(1)
Climate	217	(3)
Flora and fauna	220	(2)
History	222	(2)
Politics	224	(1)
Economy	225	(2)
People	227	(1)
Religion	228	(1)
Culture	228	(1)
Language	229	(1)
Education	230	(1)
Planning your Visit	231	(8)
Gathering information	231	(1)
When to go	231	(1)
Getting there	232	(2)
Red tape	234	(1)
What to take	234	(1)
Budgeting	235	(1)
Health	235	(1)
Safety	236	(1)
Disabled travellers	236	(1)
Cultural sensitivities	236	(3)
In Reunion	239	(14)
On arrival/departure	239	(1)
Getting around	239	(4)
Accommodation	243	(1)
Eating and drinking	244	(2)
Shopping	246	(1)
Arts and entertainment	247	(1)
Money and banking	248	(1)
Media and communications	248	(1)
Working hours and public holidays	249	(1)
Photography	250	(1)
Help	250	(3)
Activities	253	(10)
Multi-activity companies	253	(1)
Hiking	254	(3)
Canyoning	257	(1)
Mountain-biking	257	(1)
Horse-riding	258	(1)
Golf	259	(1)
4WD excursions	259	(1)
Microlighting	259	(1)
Paragliding	260	(1)
Bungee-jumping	260	(1)
Helicopter rides	260	(1)
Surfing	260	(1)
Water-skiing	260	(1)
Other watersports	261	(1)
Sailing	261	(1)
Scuba-diving	261	(1)
Deep-sea fishing	261	(1)
Glass-bottom boats	262	(1)
Northern Reunion	263	(10)
St-Denis	263	(6)
Around St-Denis	269	(1)
What to do in the north	269	(2)
What to see in the north	271	(2)
Eastern Reunion	273	(8)
Ste-Suzanne to Bras-Panon	273	(1)
St-Benoit	274	(2)
Ste-Anne	276	(1)
Ste-Rose and surrounds	276	(2)
South to La Pointe de la Table	278	(1)
Piton-de-la-Fournaise	278	(1)
What to do in the east	279	(1)
What to see in the east	280	(1)
Southern Reunion	281	(14)
St-Philippe and surrounds	281	(1)
St-Joseph and surrounds	282	(2)
St-Pierre and surrounds	284	(6)
Pierrefonds Airport	290	(1)
St-Louis to L'Etang-Sale	290	(1)
What to do in the south	291	(1)
What to see in the south	292	(3)
Western Reunion	295	(14)
St-Leu	295	(4)
St-Gilles-les-Bains and surrounds	299	(5)
St-Paul to La Possession	304	(2)
What to do in the west	306	(1)
What to see in the west	307	(2)
The Interior	309	(16)
La Plaine-des-Palmistes	309	(3)
La Plaine-des-Cafres	312	(2)
What to do in the Plaines	314	(1)
What to see in the Plaines	314	(1)
The Cirques	314	(11)
Appendix 1 Language	325	(2)
Appendix 2 Accommodation	327	(6)
Appendix 3 Further Information	333	(4)
Index	337